Noise level: Moderate. Easy to carry on a conversation, and certainly it's not as loud as that one time when Theseus made quite the racket when he slew the minotaur.

(Note: This story was updated Sept. 4, 2014, to clarify that the food critiqued in this review comes from nearby Savory Cuisines, a catering service located at 5741 Arapahoe Ave., No. 1A, Boulder. Savory has been providing Avery with menu items since 2011.)

For the first-time visitor, Avery Brewing's Tap Room can be a little hard to find, as it's nestled in a la

For the first-time visitor, Avery Brewing's Tap Room can be a little difficult to find, as it's nestled in a labyrinthine business park off Boulder's Arapahoe Avenue.

After wandering around seed stores and catering kitchens, taking pains to steer clear of minotaurs, I soon spied cases of beers piled high for shipment. Deductive genius that I am, I figured I was close, and sure enough, I quickly found the tap room itself, diners and drinkers cheerfully lunching al fresco and serving as makeshift homing beacons.

Part of Avery's appeal is that it has the unpretentious feel of the working brewery that it is, and the dining spaces are simple yet cheerful spots. Tap room staff was uniformly friendly and informative, while supporting the operation's casual vibe. One staff member took the time to share with us a short capsule of the brewery's 21-year history and the brand's reach in regional markets. He also reminded us that the tap room and brewing operation will relocate to new Gunbarrel digs near the end of the year.

My less navigationally impaired friends had arrived before me, and already were sampling Avery's reasonably priced taster brews. My first sip was of the $2 Summer's Day India Pale Ale. It didn't entirely live up to its citrusy billing, although it did possess a bitter edge that likely will make or break this brew for most drinkers.

As a group, we preferred the smoother taste of the traditional IPA to this seasonal variant. Another assertive choice, the regally named Eremita VII, delivered on promised sour flavor, but not so much as to overshadow subtler whiffs of cucumber and hibiscus. If you enjoyed sour ball candies as a child, this is the brew for you.

Those seeking something mellower than the Eremita might be better off with the full-flavored but less-in-your face Red Table Common. More neutral tasters, like the best-selling $1.50 White Rascal, a Belgian wheat ale highlighting citrus accents, went down easily. Such brews are ideally matched to Avery's tried-and-true bar food menu, which relies heavily on pizzas, sandwiches and salads, as well as snacks such as wings, hummus and nachos.

It's easy to trace the progress of nachos from Velveeta-smothered chips dotted with canned jalapeños to the kitchen sink platters that first appeared in the '90s.

Avery's $9.75 pork green chile nachos, also available in a vegetarian version, could very well be the apex of nacho evolution. Slathered with a pungent green chile that would be a delight to eat on its own, this generously portioned plate could easily be a light meal for two. Beyond the stew-like topping, these nachos also hew to the tried and true with the expected adornments of decent guacamole, sour cream, tomato and jalapeño.

A $10.25 Cuban sandwich, a trendy item nowadays because of its pivotal role in the film "Chef," exceeded expectations. Moist and full-flavored pulled pork paired with ham anchored this porcine delight, rounded out by the distinctive creaminess of melted Swiss. House-made pickles added tartness and crunch, a pleasing counterpoint to the meat and cheese's considerable richness.

The $10 gyros twins plate provided plenty of bang for the buck, and as its name indicates, this offering included two Mediterranean flatbread sandwiches. While these sandwiches weren't overflowing with meat, there still was plenty of blended lamb and beef to satisfy, and the fresh-tasting yogurt-based tzatziki sauce supplied laid-back tanginess. Accompanying tomatoes were properly ripe, red and juicy, and onions and feta ensured this selection was everything a good gyros or two ought to be.

The $10.75 Brewer's Delight pizza initially left an unfavorable impression, as the crust's too uniform consistency and appearance resembled that of a store-bought frozen pie. Thankfully, this foundation was more crisp than soggy, and the generous toppings redeemed this pizza. One dining companion praised the red sauce's bright flavor and volume, lamenting the fact that many pies just don't come with enough of this critical ingredient. Mozzarella and jalapeños made for an appealing taste contrast. Classic meat toppings of pepperoni, sausage and ham were of better quality than found on most pies at this price.

Avery's pulls off the nifty trick of dishing out an unfussy and generally well-executed bar menu that pairs well with its signature brews. Additionally, prices are easy on the wallet and the low cost of the taster beers allows one to readily sample several distinctive brews. While the current location might take a little bit of effort to find, Avery is worth the journey.

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